Predictive windshield wiper system

Abstract

A windshield-wiper system includes a precipitation-detector, a windshield-wiper actuator, an object-detector, and a controller. The precipitation-detector detects precipitation proximate to a host-vehicle. The windshield-wiper actuator clears the precipitation from a windshield of the host-vehicle. The object-detector detects a distance of an object to the host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the precipitation-detector, the windshield-wiper actuator, and the object-detector. The controller determines when the precipitation is present based on the precipitation-detector, determines the distance from the object to the host-vehicle based on the object-detector, and adjusts a speed of the windshield-wiper actuator when the precipitation is detected and the object is less than a distance-threshold away from the host-vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a controller of a windshield wiper actuator in communication with a precipitation detector of a host vehicle, the controller being configured to:   determine a time for precipitation to contact an area proximate to the host vehicle; and   responsive to determining the time for the precipitation to contact the area proximate to the host vehicle satisfies a time threshold, increase a speed of the windshield wiper actuator.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine a change in a rate of the precipitation detected by the precipitation detector; and   responsive to determining the change in the rate of precipitation detected by the precipitation detector, adjust the speed of the windshield wiper actuator based further on the rate of precipitation measured by the precipitation detector.   
     
     
         3 . The system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the precipitation detector comprises an optical device. 
     
     
         4 . The system in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the precipitation detector comprises a camera.